-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Highway 71 Improvements
From: "Senator Kirk Watson"
Date: Wed, April 02, 2008 10:10 am
To: "Concerned Constituent"
Dear friend,
Thank you for contacting me about the significant safety issues with Highway 71 in western Travis County. Thanks also for your concern about this issue. Letters and emails such as yours are having a significant and positive effect in prompting the Texas Department of Transportation to take action and remedy this serious situation.
Since I took office in 2007, I and many others have been pressing the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to provide a plan to improve this dangerous stretch of highway. In February, I announced specific steps that we all hope will protect drivers and prevent further tragedies. Those include:
Re-striping the length of the highway between Oak Hill and the Pedernales River, with "rumble" surfacing on the center line and shoulder striping to warn drivers when they're straying off the road or into oncoming traffic.
Widening the section of Highway 71 between R.O. Drive (which is about 6/10ths of a mile northwest of Haystack Cove) and FM 2322.
Adding new signs and flashing lights wherever they are needed.
Launching a speed limit study of the corridor, and reducing speed limits wherever possible.
Resurfacing all of Highway 71 between Bee Creek Road and the Pedernales River with a porous pavement that drains easily, improves traction, and prevents accidents.
I wanted to let you know about additional improvements, announced this week, that should have an even more dramatic effect in protecting drivers on Highway 71.
INSTALLATION OF CONCRETE BARRIERS:
WHAT: TxDOT plans to place a median down the middle of Highway 71 from Haystack Cove to Bee Creek Road. The proposal would narrow lanes from 12-feet to 11-feet (the same width as is called for on the planned improvements to North MoPoac Boulevard). It also would require off-ramps and stoplights at each end of the project to allow for left-turns and U-turns.
WHEN: TxDOT needs to secure environmental clearances to construct the ramps. If those clearances are secured in time, the Department is attempting to expand the scope of a planned re-paving project, scheduled to begin in April, to include the placement of the median. If not, TxDOT will move forward with the project as quickly as the review process allows.
CREATION OF SAFETY FUND:
BACKGROUND: While plans call for the expansion of Highway 71 segments between Silvermine Road (just past Oak Hill) and Arroyo Canyon, and between Hamilton Pool Road and Bee Creek Road, there are no funds currently available for that work. Expanding these road segments is expected to cost roughly $45 million. This endemic lack of money affects all roads with safety issues in Central Texas.
WHAT: CAMPO is working with the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority and TxDOT to create a "Transportation Safety Fund," a renewing source of money to address quantifiable roadway safety issues in the region, beginning with this section of Highway 71. If approved by the CAMPO Transportation Policy Board, the Safety Fund would provide matching funds for local jurisdictions, allowing them to improve identified roads when there are not sufficient state or local funds to do so.
HOW: With Board approval, the Transportation Safety Fund initially will be capitalized by up to $30 million in discretionary state funding that previous CAMPO boards set aside for Central Texas toll roads. If approved by the appropriate agencies, those funds will be made up through construction savings from toll road projects in Travis County and the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority. In addition, Travis County will be required to provide matching funds of up to $15 million, some of which could be provided by private developers and landowners along Highway 71.
WHEN: As soon as possible. Clearly, a number of details are still being discussed by a number of government agencies, elected officials, and CAMPO board members. But Senator Watson and other Central Texas officials are committed to pursuing any avenues to expedite needed safety and capacity improvements in Central Texas, particularly on Highway 71.
REDUCED SPEED LIMITS:
TxDOT will recommend to the Transportation Commission that the limits be lowered to 60 miles-per-hour between FM 2322 and FM 620, and to 55 miles-per-hour between 620 and the Y at Oak Hill. These new speed limits will be submitted to the Transportation Commission for approval, hopefully by the end of this month.
INCREASED LAW ENFORCEMENT:
Coordination between Central Texas officials has led to increased enforcement of existing speed limits along Highway 71. Residents and landowners report increased presence by the Travis County Sheriff's Office, county constables, and the DPS and an apparent increase in citations. Law enforcement agencies intend to maintain this activity until speeding decreases on Highway 71.
I hope these initiatives reassure you that I and others are doing all we can to make Highway 71 a far less dangerous road. Be assured that I will continue to seek out innovative solutions and partnerships to address this and other safety issues in Central Texas. Thanks again for all you have done to make sure this problem is addressed. Please do not hesitate to contact me if I may be of further assistance.
Sincerely,
Kirk Watson
